Refrigerant Handling Flashcards

Under Canadian regulations (Environmental Protection Act and provincial codes), what certification is required to purchase and handle refrigerants?

Answer: An ODP (Ozone Depletion Prevention) licence from the provincial authority and/or an Environmental Awareness Certificate for handling refrigerants

In Canada, technicians must hold valid certification to purchase, handle, and recover refrigerants. Requirements vary by province but generally include completion of an approved environmental awareness course and obtaining a certificate or licence from the provincial authority (e.g., TSSA in Ontario, BCSA in BC).

What is the purpose of recovering refrigerant before opening a system for service?

Answer: To prevent the release of refrigerant to the atmosphere, which is both illegal under Canadian law and harmful to the ozone layer or contributes to global warming

Canadian federal and provincial regulations prohibit the intentional venting of refrigerants. CFC and HCFC refrigerants damage the ozone layer, while HFC refrigerants are potent greenhouse gases. Recovery captures the refrigerant in approved cylinders for reuse, recycling, or reclamation, protecting the environment and complying with the law.

What is the difference between refrigerant recovery, recycling, and reclamation?

Answer: Recovery removes refrigerant from a system; recycling cleans it for reuse in the field; reclamation reprocesses it to meet new-product specifications at an approved facility

Recovery is the process of removing refrigerant from a system into an approved container. Recycling involves field-cleaning recovered refrigerant (removing oil, moisture, and non-condensables) for reuse. Reclamation is factory reprocessing to ARI 700 (new-product) specifications, involving chemical analysis, distillation, and certification.

What colour coding identifies a recovery cylinder versus a refrigerant-specific cylinder?

Answer: Recovery cylinders are grey with yellow tops; specific refrigerants have designated colours (e.g., R-410A is rose/pink, R-22 is green)

Recovery cylinders used in Canada are identified by a grey body with a yellow shoulder/top. Specific refrigerant types use designated colours: R-22 (green), R-134a (light blue), R-410A (rose/pink), R-404A (orange). Since 2004, the ARI assigned grey with the same coloured band to prevent misidentification, but older colour coding persists.

What safety precautions must be taken when handling refrigerants?

Answer: Work in well-ventilated areas, wear safety glasses and gloves, use proper recovery equipment, never heat cylinders with open flame, and have a refrigerant leak detector available

Refrigerant safety precautions include: work in well-ventilated areas (refrigerants displace oxygen and some decompose into toxic gases near flames), wear safety glasses (liquid refrigerant causes frostbite on contact), wear gloves, never use open flames to heat cylinders, monitor for leaks with proper detectors, and know the SDS for each refrigerant.

What is the GWP (Global Warming Potential) of R-410A and why is this significant for the Canadian HVAC industry?

Answer: GWP of approximately 2,088; it is being phased down under the Kigali Amendment and Canadian HFC regulations, requiring transition to lower-GWP alternatives

R-410A has a GWP of approximately 2,088 (meaning it traps 2,088 times more heat than CO₂ over 100 years). Canada has ratified the Kigali Amendment to phase down HFC production and consumption. The HVAC industry is transitioning to lower-GWP alternatives like R-32 (GWP 675) and R-454B (GWP 466) in new equipment.